From hot mulled wine and bubbly spritzers to creamy cheese dips and grilled oysters, we’ve gathered up all our favorite cocktail party essentials. Whether you are hosting a New Year’s bash or simply sipping at home, there is sure to be a drink or a cocktail party appetizer to please everyone.
So you’ve finished your holiday shopping and now you’re ready to host your very own cocktail party. Hooray! We’ve got you covered from the drinks to the best cocktail party recipe ideas. Whether it’s holiday season, hosting an Oscar’s Party, or setting up a Mimosa Bar – having a plan going into it makes the experience so much easer.
You need to make sure you balance time with guests and time to socialize during the event. So plan your menu with just a couple of each items.
First things first: booze. So that you actually have time to talk to your guests (and not just be the bartender) we recommend choosing 2-3 cocktails and pre-mixing them in pitchers or carafes. Try picking:
1 drink with a light liquor (gin, vodka, light rum)
1 with a dark liquor (bourbon or whiskey)
1withbubbles (you can rarely go wrong with bubbles)
That way everyone will have a drink they can jive with. Plan on serving 1 drink per person per hour. Don’t forget to have a non-alcoholic drink option on hand as well.
For cocktail appetizers plan a combination of cocktail appetizers you can make in advance and cook during the party. Below we mention portions. That way you can pull some things out of the oven with minimal need to prepare or clean up.
Wine
It goes without saying, having a few well curated wines goes a long way. When it comes to ease and accommodating a wide range of palates, keep the budget around $30 (or less) per bottle.
It is a special party. And if you are wondering what styles to have: sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and a red Zinfandel are all great options and very versatile with food (not to mention they cater to a wide variety of palates).
Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Make a pitcher (or crock pot!) of these festive cocktails so you can spend more time mingling.
1
Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe
Fresh apple cider plus sparkling wine for the perfect apple cider cocktail. This will be your go-to fall cocktail.
Mulled Wine is a comforting festive drink made from a blend of red wine, spices, and citrus, served warm. This holiday classic recipe is easy to make and is a great cocktail for winter parties.
Ginger Pomegranate Spritz is a loose take on a classic cocktail. This refreshing drink is made with ginger beer, pomegranate flavored Italian soda, fresh lime, vodka, and some fresh herbs. It's the perfect refreshing holiday cocktail this season.
A delicious and festive Pomegranate Mimosa made with sparkling wine, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice. The perfect champagne cocktail recipe for holiday parties!
An incredibly easy 3-ingredient Christmas mimosa that's easy to adapt. It has a balance of sparkling wine, cranberry juice, and a splash of orange and is the perfect holiday cocktail!
On to the food! Like with drinks, the name of the game is to do as much as you can in advance. Dips and nuts can be prepared the day before. Meatballs can be kept warm in a crock pot throughout the party.
And when we plan a cocktail party it’s all appetizers and drinks. We save the holiday roasts and sides to sit down dinners.
How many appetizers per person for a cocktail party?
Choose 3-4 different appetizers so each person averages 12 bites. So if you have 10 people coming over, plan 120 total bites from 4 appetizers.
Then you can have 40 of each ready to go and still have plenty of food.
That’s why we balance easy or make-ahead appetizers like our shrimp cocktail or crostini.
Chef’s Tip
If you have a charcuterie and cheese platter, then that will count as one appetizer. So plan 3 additional appetizers in addition to your meat and cheese plate. As we mentioned, it can be elegant and still make your prep and hosting easy.
8
Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Sriracha Cocktail Sauce
Grilled Shrimp Cocktail features a Spicy Sriracha Cocktail Sauce that is easily adaptable. Perfect for cookouts, parties, and holidays!
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Dates with Honey and Goat Cheese
Stuffed with goat cheese, these dates are then wrapped with bacon and then grilled over direct heat. These dates are finished with a smoked honey glaze and create the very best finger food at any party.
Smoked Cranberry Meatballs in a Cranberry Red Wine Sauce
A simple, delicious, and elegant appetizer idea for the holidays. Smoked meatballs made with pork and beef, cooked on the smoker, and then braised in a sweet and savory cranberry wine sauce.
A delicious appetizer recipe for a smoked salmon dip made with salmon cooked on a smoker, then mixed into a creamy indulgent dip. This is a great smoked salmon appetizer for any occasion. Includes wine pairings.
Roasting almonds using a low and slow method to get an amazing smoky flavor and crunch. We add a touch of extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt to finish.
Goat Cheese Dip with Shiitake Mushrooms combines cream cheese and goat cheese with savory shiitake mushrooms and is baked and finished with spicy pickled peppers, tomatoes, and more mushrooms. Creamy, savory, and delicious!
We'll email this to you AND teach you how to smoke the perfect turkey.
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I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!
